Puerto Rico mayor sentenced after pleading guilty to bribery

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A former Puerto Rico mayor has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery.

The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday that Eduard Rivera Correa also was ordered to forfeit $39,000 as part of his sentence.

He was accused of demanding kickbacks in exchange for awarding $329,000 worth of construction inspection contracts. Rivera also was accused of threatening a contractor to prevent him from cooperating with authorities.

Rivera served as mayor of the north coastal municipality of Rio Grande. The 61-year-old was arrested in July last year.